Good evening,
Please find today's Daily COVID-19 Update for April 27th below and attached. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Thank you,
Jeff Cohen
INFORMS Members In The News
Member: Anna Nagurney
Member: Pinar Keskinocak and Evren Ozkaya
Members: David Simchi-Levi
Member: David Simchi-Levi
Member: Anna Nagurney and David Simchi-Levi
U.S. Federal Policy Update
- The White House released a testing overview document, offering a blueprint for the phased reopening of various sectors of state economies and programs. This updated guidance focuses on three tiers: "robust diagnostic testing, timely monitoring systems, and rapid response programs." The document also states that the "testing plans and rapid response programs will be federally supported, state managed, and locally executed."
- House and Senate lawmakers are officially slated to return to Washington, DC next week on May 4th, according to announcements from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
- Attorney General William Barr issued a memo to all US attorneys and Civil Rights Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband to ensure that state coronavirus lockdowns do not impede civil liberties, thereby preserving constitutional protections.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) issued a statement urging Majority Leader McConnell to "instruct his Committee Chairs to immediately begin vigorous and desperately needed oversight of the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implementation of the CARES Act."
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) published a video entitled "How Coronavirus Legislation Affects YOU."
- There's increased scrutiny on the question of whether or not to give money to states. President Trump tweeted this morning, asking "why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states and cities, [which are] in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help?"
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) suggested in an interview that lawmakers "may have to think in terms of some different ways to put money in people's pockets," and that attention should be paid to implementing "a minimum income – a guaranteed income for people."
- The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that they have implemented "substantial enhancements to the 'Get My Payment' app to ensure more Americans can get their money fast and track its delivery."
- The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee – the panel created to oversee programs created under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act – officially launched their operations today, with a new website and Twitter account.
Global Response
- Late Sunday night, Saudi Arabia announced a $250 million agreement with China to provide 9 million testing kits, 500 Chinese technicians, and 6 regional laboratories.
- Almost all the federal states across the country of Germany implemented mandatory restrictions requiring citizens to wear face masks when they're out in public.
- Spain's Carlos III Institute is launching a large research project to study the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
State Update
- New York's Board of Elections officially announced that they would be cancelling the state's Democratic presidential primary. Furthermore, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state government will allow businesses "to unpause May 15th, when regulations expire statewide."
- Colorado and Nevada joined the Western States Pact – a coalition of western governors working to reopen their economies in a coordinated effort. Colorado and Nevada will join the three states which launched the group – Washington, California, and Oregon.
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state will launch a phased reopening of its economy this Friday, May 1st.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state will move forward with the scheduled reopening date of May 1st, allowing retailers and several other businesses to open while continuing to implement social distancing practices. However, gyms, bars, and hair salons in the state are required to stay closed until mid-May at the earliest.
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the state will begin to reopen their businesses, while taking into account "geographic and workplace risk, as well as public health abilities and workplace protocols."
- Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced that nonessential businesses would be allowed to resume operations via curbside drop-off for goods and services – including for animal services (i.e. groomers, for example).
- Health officials from the seven jurisdictions encompassing the San Francisco Bay area released a joint statement extending their stay-at-home orders through the end of May.
- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a six-point plan called "The Road Back." The phased approach is accompanied with an indefinite stay-at-home order which will stay in place "until further notice."
Economic Update (as of close of the markets)
- U.S. stocks were on the rise today, with all three indices closing with moderate gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced by 1.5%, the S&P 500 also by 1.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 1.1%.
Latest Impact Data
- In the United States: Over 1,004,942 cases and 56,527 deaths in 50 states, 4 territories, and Washington, D.C.
- Worldwide: Over 3,055,651 million cases and 211,065 deaths in at least 204 countries and territories.
In the News
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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
Director, Public Affairs & Marketing
INFORMS
jeff.cohen@informs.org------------------------------